Yael Ram
Ashkelon Academic College, Tourism Studies, Department Member
The authors would like to thank Yoav Ram for raising awareness of the year 2038 problem and his patient technical guiding. Without Yoav's generous support this paper would not have been written.
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The Israel - National Ecosystem Assessment (I-NEA) project aims to present a comprehensive picture of the state and trends of Israel's ecosystem services across all ecosystems, by integrating existing data and information collected... more
The Israel - National Ecosystem Assessment (I-NEA) project aims to present a comprehensive picture of the state and trends of Israel's ecosystem services across all ecosystems, by integrating existing data and information collected from a wide range of sources. Although there is a lack of information about the spatial distribution of ecosystem services’ provisioning in Israel, their mapping constitutes an important part of the assessment. In this paper, we present a national-scale mapping of three ecosystem services, each of them implemented using different methods: 1) Genetic resources service, mapped using spatial observations of the Crop Wild Relatives species; 2) potential of pollination service, which is provided by wild bees, mapped using an expert-based habitat model related to land use and land cover; and 3) cultural service of recreation, mapped by analysing the distribution of geotagged digital photographs uploaded to social media resources. The derived maps visualise,...
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The current work focuses on Quality of Service (QoS) of Public Transport (PT) attributes in urban tourist destinations. In particular, we aim to reveal which attributes are most significant for tourists prior to their arrival at their... more
The current work focuses on Quality of Service (QoS) of Public Transport (PT) attributes in urban tourist destinations. In particular, we aim to reveal which attributes are most significant for tourists prior to their arrival at their destination, as reflected in questions posted in TripAdvisor Question and Answer forums, a widely used social media platform.
We used a data-mining method to classify questions into categories relevant to QoS, using a sample of 8,905 items posted between 2005 and 2018 in TripAdvisor forums for seven urban destinations in the United States and Western Europe. We found four PT-QoS attributes: Pricing and ticketing, Accessibility, Trip duration, and Service availability (hours of operation and frequency). These attributes have similar relative significance for all destinations, origins, seasons, and years we checked. Hence, they can help service operators and policymakers to understand tourists' preferences and to adjust PT services accordingly.
We used a data-mining method to classify questions into categories relevant to QoS, using a sample of 8,905 items posted between 2005 and 2018 in TripAdvisor forums for seven urban destinations in the United States and Western Europe. We found four PT-QoS attributes: Pricing and ticketing, Accessibility, Trip duration, and Service availability (hours of operation and frequency). These attributes have similar relative significance for all destinations, origins, seasons, and years we checked. Hence, they can help service operators and policymakers to understand tourists' preferences and to adjust PT services accordingly.
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The LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community is warmly embraced by the city of Tel Aviv. This phenomenon is exemplified by the fact that the Tel Aviv City Hall has been taking a leading part in the... more
The LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community is warmly embraced by the city of Tel Aviv. This phenomenon is exemplified by the fact that the Tel Aviv City Hall has been taking a leading part in the organization, financing, and promotion of Pride parades and events in recent years. The present article analyzes a quantitative survey of overseas participants in the 2016 Pride events in Tel Aviv. It explores the motivations, attitudes, satisfaction, and behaviors of tourists, both LGBTQ+ and non- LGBTQ+. The results show that Tel Aviv is perceived as gay friendly by all participants, regardless of their affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community. We discuss the advantages of being a gay-friendly city via high visibility and social inclusion. Finally, we address ‘pinkwashing’, an umbrella term employed to describe the efforts by Israeli authorities to promote a positive image of Israel despite its questioned geopolitical reputation.
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Purpose This paper aims to provide a perspective on privacy in tourism and hospitality. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of journals was undertaken in addition to thematic analysis. Findings Relatively little research has... more
Purpose This paper aims to provide a perspective on privacy in tourism and hospitality. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of journals was undertaken in addition to thematic analysis. Findings Relatively little research has been undertaken on privacy in tourism and hospitality with privacy often regarded as synonymous with security. Originality/value One of the few commentaries on privacy in tourism.
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לפני משבר הקורונה גרמה תעשיית התיירות לכ-8% מהפליטה העולמית של פחמן דו-חמצני. מתוך שיעור זה, התעופה הבין-לאומית הייתה הגורם המרכזי לפליטות, והן הוערכו ב-665 מיליון טונות בשנת 2018 . השפעתו של ענף הפלגות הנופש (קרוזים) הייתה צנועה יותר,... more
לפני משבר הקורונה גרמה תעשיית התיירות לכ-8% מהפליטה העולמית של פחמן דו-חמצני. מתוך שיעור זה, התעופה הבין-לאומית הייתה הגורם המרכזי לפליטות, והן הוערכו ב-665 מיליון טונות בשנת 2018 . השפעתו של ענף הפלגות הנופש (קרוזים) הייתה צנועה יותר, ועמדה בשנת 2012 על פחות מ-40 מיליון טונות. השאלה הנשאלת היא – מה יהיה המצב לאחר המשבר, וכיצד המצב החדש ישתלב עם היעדים להפחתת פליטות שהוצבו בלאו הכי לענפי התעופה והשיט?
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Acknowledgment: the authors would like to gratefully thank the National Parks Authority of Israel for their assistance and cooperation in the conduct of this research. Camping is a recreational activity that links people with their... more
Acknowledgment: the authors would like to gratefully thank the National Parks Authority of Israel for their assistance and cooperation in the conduct of this research. Camping is a recreational activity that links people with their physical surroundings and the environment. Hence, efforts in promoting camping activities may help promote sustainable and accessible recreation and tourism. This research focuses on preferences and barriers for camping in Israel, as perceived by frequent, occasional, and non-campers. The findings of an online study with 665 respondents show that focusing only on current campers may create self-selection bias and overlook the barriers that prevent people from camping. While non-campers shared some barriers with campers, they also experienced more barriers regarding information gaps (location of campsites) and camping equipment. All participants had a similar preference for solitude and lack of crowding. These findings create a dilemma for camping managers and marketing campaigns: to reduce the barriers that prevent low frequency campers and non-campers from camping, or to keep the situation as is and minimize overcrowding in campsites.
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The work focuses on the changes that the MeToo movement brought to tourism and the hospitality industry since its beginning in October 2017. Social media has been previously found as an important tool in tourism, but its impact on social... more
The work focuses on the changes that the MeToo movement brought to tourism and the hospitality industry since its beginning in October 2017. Social media has been previously found as an important tool in tourism, but its impact on social change has been questioned. By applying the Google Advanced Search options and analyzing the Web of Science (WoS) database, the work analyzes news, websites, cases, blogs, academic papers and white papers. Following the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews, the work shows how the MeToo movement selectively influenced employees, tourists and guests in different sub-sectors of tourism and hospitality in the United States. The changes were mainly related to the identity of the offenders. Solidarity with the victims was found as less relevant in this case. The hotel sector presents the most prevalent change, including policies and educational goals, followed by the restaurant sector, airlines and the event sector. Places outside of the USA, as well as single travelers and passengers, were found to be less protected by these changes, and may be at risk.
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This study investigates the links between a destination's gay-friendliness and the travel preferences of tourists with different levels of affiliation with the LGBT community. Overseas tourists to Tel Aviv (Israel) participated in two... more
This study investigates the links between a destination's gay-friendliness and the travel preferences of tourists with different levels of affiliation with the LGBT community. Overseas tourists to Tel Aviv (Israel) participated in two surveys: during LGBT Pride events (n = 168) and two months later (n = 117). Due to a terror attack, the before-and-after effects of safety perceptions and gay-friendliness were also tested. Analyzing responses of tourists with different levels of affiliation with the LGBT community revealed that the on-going inclusive policy of the city raises positive attitudes among all inbound tourists (regardless of their level of affiliation with the LGBT community) and that LGBT tourists do not spend more money than tourists who are not LGBT. Unexpected risk mitigation effects of gay-friendliness were observed, when all tourists linked gay-friendliness to safety perceptions, and perceived Tel Aviv as a safe place, even after a terror attack. This finding suggests that gay-friendliness is an asset in building resilience for urban destinations, even in unstable geo-political regions.
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According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005), Ecosystem Services are divided into four main categories: supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural services. The Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) represent the physical,... more
According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005), Ecosystem Services are divided into four main categories: supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural services. The Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) represent the physical, intellectual and spiritual interactions with ecosystems and land/seascapes. The current work aims to strengthen the links between CES and Tourism, by presenting how the conceptualization of CES can contribute to researching landscapes. A sample of 876 questionnaire respondents in six different types of landscape revealed that the CES conceptualization could provide a useful framework for understanding visitor perceptions and experiences of landscapes. Furthermore, the study showed that CES categories are very closely interconnected and an integrated approach is recommended for all landscape planning. This knowledge is essential to place making, which incorporates elements of meaning making and attachment, as well as place identity, continuity and dependency.
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שירותי התרבות הם שירותי המערכת האקולוגית המעשירים את חייהם של בני אדם אמצעות תועלת המופקת מהתנסויות פעילות (אקטיביות) וסבילות (פסיביות) או המתייחסת לערך הקיום. ההתנסויות הפעילות של בני האדם עם מערכות אקולוגיות משיגות בעיקר תועלות... more
שירותי התרבות הם שירותי המערכת האקולוגית המעשירים את חייהם של בני אדם
אמצעות תועלת המופקת מהתנסויות פעילות (אקטיביות) וסבילות (פסיביות) או המתייחסת לערך הקיום. ההתנסויות הפעילות של בני האדם עם מערכות אקולוגיות משיגות בעיקר תועלות פיזיות: תיירות, פעילות פנאי וספורט, וכן תועלות אינטלקטואליות:
פעילויות חינוך ומחקר. התנסויות סבילות (צפייה והתבוננות) של בני האדם במערכות אקולוגיות תורמות בעיקרלתועלות מופשטות: הנאה רוחנית ואסתטיקה, השתייכות למקום, רוחניות וקדושה. פרק שירותי תרבות בדוח הביניים (עמודים 81-87) מפרט ימצאי מפתח לגבי ישראל
אמצעות תועלת המופקת מהתנסויות פעילות (אקטיביות) וסבילות (פסיביות) או המתייחסת לערך הקיום. ההתנסויות הפעילות של בני האדם עם מערכות אקולוגיות משיגות בעיקר תועלות פיזיות: תיירות, פעילות פנאי וספורט, וכן תועלות אינטלקטואליות:
פעילויות חינוך ומחקר. התנסויות סבילות (צפייה והתבוננות) של בני האדם במערכות אקולוגיות תורמות בעיקרלתועלות מופשטות: הנאה רוחנית ואסתטיקה, השתייכות למקום, רוחניות וקדושה. פרק שירותי תרבות בדוח הביניים (עמודים 81-87) מפרט ימצאי מפתח לגבי ישראל
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This research note presents a new tool for analysing the benefits of landscapes for visitors and tourists using the Cultural Ecosystems Services (CES) framework as defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) in 2005. The authors... more
This research note presents a new tool for analysing the benefits of landscapes for visitors and tourists using the Cultural Ecosystems Services (CES) framework as defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) in 2005. The authors reflect on the challenges of defining Cultural Ecosystem Services and interpreting and translating these categorisations for the purposes of questionnaire research. Previous studies had noted the difficulties inherent in capturing many of
the intangible elements inherent in the CES terminology. Familiarisation with CES categories arguably affords new opportunities to bring together many of the disparate elements which have often been managed independently in landscape and tourism studies (e.g. cultural and intangible heritage, eco-systems, socio-cultural impacts of tourism and community-based tourism). A questionnaire was designed consisting of nineteen statements which related closely to the CES
categorisations. It was translated into eight languages and distributed in autumn 2015 to visitors in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Netherlands and Poland in six different kinds of landscape: forest, mountains, lakeside, seaside, mountains, desert and a combination of nature and manmade. In total, 876 valid questionnaires were obtained and were proven statistically to make a useful contribution to the field of CES research, landscapes and tourism studies.
Acknowledgements
The authors of this Research Note would like to acknowledge
and thank the participants of Working Group 1 in the EUfunded
COST Project Tourism, Wellbeing and Ecosystem Services (TObeWELL ISCH COST Action IS1204) for their role in this research, especially for the Delphi Study and data collection.
the intangible elements inherent in the CES terminology. Familiarisation with CES categories arguably affords new opportunities to bring together many of the disparate elements which have often been managed independently in landscape and tourism studies (e.g. cultural and intangible heritage, eco-systems, socio-cultural impacts of tourism and community-based tourism). A questionnaire was designed consisting of nineteen statements which related closely to the CES
categorisations. It was translated into eight languages and distributed in autumn 2015 to visitors in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Macedonia, Netherlands and Poland in six different kinds of landscape: forest, mountains, lakeside, seaside, mountains, desert and a combination of nature and manmade. In total, 876 valid questionnaires were obtained and were proven statistically to make a useful contribution to the field of CES research, landscapes and tourism studies.
Acknowledgements
The authors of this Research Note would like to acknowledge
and thank the participants of Working Group 1 in the EUfunded
COST Project Tourism, Wellbeing and Ecosystem Services (TObeWELL ISCH COST Action IS1204) for their role in this research, especially for the Delphi Study and data collection.
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The family vacation phenomenon is a foundation of the tourism industry. This chapter offers a review of the academic literature about the family vacation and presents an Israeli study that addresses the family vacations of Israeli families.
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Purpose The paper focuses on the gap between the very high prevalence of sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry (the phenomenon) and the limited academic discussion about it (academic knowledge), and suggests ways to... more
Purpose
The paper focuses on the gap between the very high prevalence of sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry (the phenomenon) and the limited academic discussion about it (academic knowledge), and suggests ways to bridge this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
The gap between phenomenon and knowledge is identified by comparing official data regarding sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry with a content analysis of the academic literature. Tribe’s (2006) Knowledge Force-Field model is used to analyze this gap.
Findings
The five truth barriers identified by Tribe (2006), namely, person, rules, position, ends, and ideology are confirmed by the data. Five counter forces - triangulation, interdisciplinary, collaboration, humanism and critical praxis are developed to counter these truth barriers.
Practical implications
The five counter forces offer practical solutions for research, higher education programs and the tourism industry. They demonstrate ways to reduce the high prevalence of sexual harassment in the industry and improve the working conditions of employees.
Originality/value
Underpinned by Tribe’s conceptual model, the paper identifies and analyzes a relative silence about sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality academy in contrast to its prevalence in the industry. Additionally, it advances Tribe’s model by identifying five truth facilitating forces. Further, it offers a research agenda for revealing hidden topics and/or biased knowledge by understanding the relationship between tourism and hospitality phenomena and academic knowledge.
The paper focuses on the gap between the very high prevalence of sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry (the phenomenon) and the limited academic discussion about it (academic knowledge), and suggests ways to bridge this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
The gap between phenomenon and knowledge is identified by comparing official data regarding sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry with a content analysis of the academic literature. Tribe’s (2006) Knowledge Force-Field model is used to analyze this gap.
Findings
The five truth barriers identified by Tribe (2006), namely, person, rules, position, ends, and ideology are confirmed by the data. Five counter forces - triangulation, interdisciplinary, collaboration, humanism and critical praxis are developed to counter these truth barriers.
Practical implications
The five counter forces offer practical solutions for research, higher education programs and the tourism industry. They demonstrate ways to reduce the high prevalence of sexual harassment in the industry and improve the working conditions of employees.
Originality/value
Underpinned by Tribe’s conceptual model, the paper identifies and analyzes a relative silence about sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality academy in contrast to its prevalence in the industry. Additionally, it advances Tribe’s model by identifying five truth facilitating forces. Further, it offers a research agenda for revealing hidden topics and/or biased knowledge by understanding the relationship between tourism and hospitality phenomena and academic knowledge.
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In his paper on ‘Tourism and biological exchange and invasions: a missing dimension in sustainable tourism?’ which was published in Tourism Recreation Research 40(1), 2015, 81–94, Michael Hall argues that an increase in the movement of... more
In his paper on ‘Tourism and biological exchange and invasions: a missing dimension in sustainable tourism?’ which was published in Tourism Recreation Research 40(1), 2015, 81–94, Michael Hall argues that an increase in the movement of alien species is directly related to the growth of international tourism. Using the case of Israel, we shall attempt to show that tourism is a victim of biological invasion rather than its vector. The choice of Israel is purposive because it is situated on the crossroads of three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe) and has been the epicenter of human mobility for thousands of years, and thus it became a habitat of many alien species (Frankenberg, 1999). The worst cases of biological invasion in Israel concerning species that were introduced via land/ocean use changes were intentionally introduced for ecological purposes (e.g. dune stabilization) or accidentally introduced via infested shipments.
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The present work reviews the current knowledge about violence, bullying and sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry. It indicates the high prevalence of these aggressive behaviours, and identifies structural reasons,... more
The present work reviews the current knowledge about violence, bullying and sexual harassment in the tourism and hospitality industry. It indicates the high prevalence of these aggressive behaviours, and identifies structural reasons, insufficient managerial skills and/or common beliefs as their causes. The negative impacts of bullying, violence and sexual harassment on employees include intentions to leave and psychological upset. These personal negative feelings and attitudes contribute to negative organizational performance indicators, such as high staff turnover rate and low profitability. In addition, the high prevalence of violence creates a negative image for the tourism and hospitality industry in general. The review shows that intervention plans are scattered in aims and time frames, focus mainly on managerial policies, and almost completely overlook immediate actions as well as guest violence. Given its importance, the low number of appropriate intervention tools, policies and agendas clearly suggests the urgent need for more research. The final section of the work provides an overview of three core themes that can potentially contribute to the development of an effective intervention agenda, namely, corporate social responsibility, social media and comparisons to other sectors.
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This paper aims to explore the relationships between place attachment and perceived authenticity of major visitor attractions. The empirical study was conducted with a sample of international tourists to major visitor attractions in two... more
This paper aims to explore the relationships between place attachment and perceived authenticity of major visitor attractions. The empirical study was conducted with a sample of international tourists to major visitor attractions in two capital cities, Helsinki, Finland and Jerusalem, Israel. The results indicate a positive correlation between place attachment and authenticity. Major visitor attractions located in places with considerable heritage experience value are considered more authentic, and that authenticity of visitor attractions is influenced by place attachment moderated by iconicity and heritage value of the destination region. These findings provide insight to the ways tourists perceive authenticity of visitor attractions and highlight the importance of the heritage value of tourism destinations for strategic planning and marketing purposes.
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Walking has been identified as improving health and social capital, providing a positive sense of place, and contributing to reductions in traffic congestion, air pollution, emissions, and resource use. However, despite the growth in... more
Walking has been identified as improving health and social capital, providing a positive sense of place, and contributing to reductions in traffic congestion, air pollution, emissions, and resource use. However, despite the growth in research on active travel and walking as recreation in an urban context, relatively little research has been undertaken on walking and walkability of urban tourism. This is a surprising given that walkable places are often considered as attractive for locals and visitors with some studies suggesting that many tourists believe that the best way to experience a city is to walk it. The special issue aims to explore the different aspects of walking in tourism cities, and welcomes abstracts from various disciplines that are related (but not limited) to the following topics: • Methodologies for measuring walking and walkability in tourism cities • Planning and design dimensions of leisure and tourism related walking in urban environments • Patterns and pathways of tourist walking • Smart cities, tourism and walkability • Relationships between public transport and walking in the tourism city • Accessibility and walkability of the tourism city • Walking, consumer behaviour and leisure and tourism environments • Urban spaces of leisure and tourism walking • Gender and walkability in the tourism city • Tourism and gamification of walking. • Is it safe to walk here? Aspects of tourism, safety, security and walkability • Conflicts between locals and visitors on walkable spaces in tourism cities • Relationships between walkability and destination success • Walkability and consumer habitat • Walking and urban nature and heritage Submission instructions The deadline for full paper submission is 20 October 2017 for a standard peer review. Potential contributors are encouraged to contact the editors prior to submission for advice on the suitability of any proposed paper. Full instructions for authors are found at the website of the International Journal of Tourism Cities at: Yael Ram, Ashkelon Academic College ([email protected])
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The link between the self and the place is known as ‘Place Attachment’, and is composed of emotional, social and cognitive components. Place attachment is a geographical and psychological construct that contributes to the feeling of... more
The link between the self and the place is known as ‘Place Attachment’, and is composed of emotional, social and cognitive components. Place attachment is a geographical and psychological construct that contributes to the feeling of “being at home”. Additionally, it can provide a sense of trust and security and, potentially, support pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.
The age of globalization and digitalization changes the way that people are connected to places. ICT and globalization do not only disconnect people from tangible and distinct places (e.g. my village, my hometown) but also offer them multiple networks of new attachments to other tangible and intangible places. Furthermore, by means of globalization and technology people may be attached to places that they have visited for only short periods or have only experienced them online or by using virtual reality devices. However, the implications of technological-driven place attachment are not known yet.
This Special Issue provides a forum to discuss and identify the implications of digitalization, globalization, tourism and virtual reality on the psychological construct of place attachment. Special attention should be given to the implication of these developments in mobility and technology on the links between place attachment and pro-environmental behaviours, aiming to identify the barriers, challenges and opportunities for sustainability.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/placea
The age of globalization and digitalization changes the way that people are connected to places. ICT and globalization do not only disconnect people from tangible and distinct places (e.g. my village, my hometown) but also offer them multiple networks of new attachments to other tangible and intangible places. Furthermore, by means of globalization and technology people may be attached to places that they have visited for only short periods or have only experienced them online or by using virtual reality devices. However, the implications of technological-driven place attachment are not known yet.
This Special Issue provides a forum to discuss and identify the implications of digitalization, globalization, tourism and virtual reality on the psychological construct of place attachment. Special attention should be given to the implication of these developments in mobility and technology on the links between place attachment and pro-environmental behaviours, aiming to identify the barriers, challenges and opportunities for sustainability.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/placea